Friday Night Drive’s 2024 Team of the Year

Offensive Player of the Year: Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel

Defensive Player of the Year: Gabe Kaminski, Nazareth

FIRST TEAM

Quarterback

Jack Elliott, Chicago Mount Carmel, senior: Elliott capped his career as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Mount Carmel history, helping the Caravan win a third straight state title. He threw for 3,147 yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games this season and led the team with 858 rushing yards and 18 more touchdowns. The Vanderbilt signee earned Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State honors, was named the CCL/ESCC Blue’s Offensive Player of the Year and broke a few IHSA championship game records.

Logan Malachuk, Nazareth, senior: Malachuk wowed with impressive throws and kept plays alive with his feet for a fourth straight year. He finished his senior year with 3,759 passing yards, breaking the Roadrunners’ career passing and total yards records, and 50 touchdowns and six interceptions along with 147 rushing yards. Malachuk earned IHSFCA All-State and CCL/ESCC Green Offensive Player of the Year honors, broke the IHSA career passing yards and career completed passes records and led Nazareth to a third straight state championship.

Jonas Williams, Lincoln-Way East, junior: Passed for 2,926 yards and 42 TDs for Class 8A semifinalist in first season at Lincoln-Way East after transferring from Bolingbrook. IHSFCA first-team Class 8A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. His 109 touchdowns in his first three seasons are the fifth most in state history, according to the IHSA records, while his 8,932 passing yards are also good for fifth place. Committed to Oregon.

Running back

Dierre Hill Jr., Belleville Althoff, senior: Oregon recruit ran for Class 1A title game-record 438 yards, had 518 all-purpose yards and scored seven touchdowns in Althoff’s Class 1A state championship game win over Lena-Winslow. On the season rushed for 2,593 yards and 43 touchdowns at over 17 yards per carry playing a schedule full of larger schools.

Drew MacPherson, Loyola, senior: MacPherson developed into one of the top pass-catching running backs in the state, helping the Ramblers capture their third consecutive Class 8A title. The Iowa signee caught 59 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with his 1,179 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He earned the Blue’s Most Valuable Player award along with IHSFCA All-State accolades.

Wide Receiver

Talyn Taylor, Geneva, senior: Taylor led a talented Vikings receiver room and proved why he’s one of the top-ranked wideouts in the country. The five-star Georgia commit had 84 catches for 1,617 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also returning two kickoffs for scores. Taylor received Class 6A All-State honors, was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the DuKane Conference and was a main catalyst in the Vikings making their first state title game since 2008.

Trenton Walker, Nazareth, junior: Walker burst onto the scene and became one of Malachuk’s favorite targets to help the Roadrunners win their third straight state championship. He caught 77 passes for 1,420 receiving yards, averaging 18.4 yards per catch, and scored 19 touchdowns. Walker earned All-CCL/ESCC honors.

Quentin Burrell, Chicago Mount Carmel, sophomore: Burrell proved that the preseason hype was true, becoming a key weapon as an underclassmen for the champion Caravan. He caught 75 passes for 1,257 yards, averaging 16.8 yards per game, and 17 touchdowns. Burrell earned All-CCL/ESCC accolades in a championship season.

Offensive Line

Joey Herbert, Loyola, senior: Herbert was a key leader for a Ramblers offensive line that developed throughout the season and helped Loyola win its third straight state title. The Ramblers averaged 147.6 rushing yards per game behind Herbert and the offensive line while throwing for 2,525 yards. Herbert was named the CCL/ESCC Blue co-Lineman of the Year and will play collegiately at Sacred Heart.

Malik Salah, Joliet Catholic, senior: Salah provided a boost for a Hilltoppers offensive line that was one of the best in the CCL/ESCC. Salah helped pave the way for an offense that totaled over 4,800 yards and scored 50 touchdowns during the season and playoffs. He earned All-CCL/ESCC honors.

Joe Reiff, York, senior: Notre Dame recruit was a two-way starter up front for Class 8A runner-up that made program’s first championship game appearance. Offensively, he was an anchor for a rushing game that had two 1,000-yard rushers and almost had a third. Defensively, he tallied 57 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 31 quarterback hurries.

Defensive line

Gabe Kaminski, Nazareth, senior: Kaminski ended a decorated career by cementing himself as one of the top defensive players in Roadrunners history. The Stanford signee had 150 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and five sacks, setting the Roadrunners' career sacks record. He garnered IHSFCA All-State and CCL/ESCC Green Defensive Player of the Year accolades, broke the IHSA career sacks record (42) and finished second in solo tackles (405).

Nate Marshall, Fenwick, senior: Marshall showed off his athleticism by constantly pressuring quarterbacks and being used as an offensive weapon at times. The Michigan signee finished his year with 60 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, four receiving touchdowns and one rushing score. Marshall was named the CCL/ESCC White MVP and earned IHSFCA All-State honors.

Caden O’Rourke, Lincoln-Way East, senior: Had 54 tackles, including 13 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, for Class 8A semifinalist. IHSFCA first-team Class 8A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. Committed to Northwestern.

Linebacker

Carson Cooney, Oswego, senior: Committed to Iowa. IHSFCA Class 8A All-State pick. Cooney had 77 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, two pass deflections and an interception for team that finished 9-0 in regular season and won Southwest Prairie West title. Offensively rushed for three touchdowns.

Ke’Andre McClendon, East St. Louis, senior: IHSFCA Class 6A All-State pick had 161 tackles and 12 sacks for Class 6A state champions. Committed to play at Lindenwood.

Matt Mucha, Chicago Mount Carmel, senior: Mucha always found his way to the ball and was a key defensive leader for a championship defense. He finished with 109 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks and three pass breakups. Mucha earned IHSFCA All-State honorable mention and CCL/ESCC Blue co-Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Josh Veldman, Lincoln-Way West, senior: Had 110 tackles, including 22 for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and three pass breakups. IHSFCA Class 7A All-State first-team selection. Committed to Northwestern.

Defensive Back

Charles Bass, East St. Louis, senior: IHSFCA Class 6A All-State pick made 102 tackles at defensive back for 6A state champions. Committed to Missouri.

Chase Osborne, Batavia, senior: Osborne proved to be a defensive menace for all offenses throughout the season, thanks to his keen ability to be the first man to the ball. He finished the season with 145 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Osborne was named the DuKane Conference Defensive Player of the Year and also earned IHSFCA Class 7A All-State honors.

Conner Stack, Brother Rice, senior: Stack was a key leader for one of the top defenses in the CCL/ESCC. He ended his season with 57 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks, four quarterback hurries and also rushed for two touchdowns for the Crusaders. Stack was the CCL/ESCC Blue co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Travis Stamm, Lyons, senior: Illinois State recruit. Had eight interceptions and two defensive touchdowns for Lyons team that finished 9-0 in regular season, won West Suburban Silver and reached the Class 8A quarterfinals. On offense, pulled in 41 catches for 601 yards and seven touchdowns and finished career as Lyons' all-time leading receiver.

SECOND TEAM

Quarterback

Jacob Bell, Naperville North, senior

Tony Chahino, Geneva, senior

Johnny O’Brien, Fremd, junior

Running Back

Landin Benson, Coal City, senior

Aaron Stewart, Warren, senior

Wide Receiver

Davon Grant, DeKalb, junior

Braden Peevy, DePaul Prep, senior

Keaton Reinke, St. Charles North, junior

Offensive Line

Ty Drayton, Cary-Grove, senior

Cade Odell, Princeton, senior

Jaylen Torres, St. Francis, junior

Defensive Line

Xavier Blanquel, Batavia, senior

Nicky Castaldo, Montini, senior

Brad Fitzgibbon, Marist, senior

Linebacker

Justin Buckner, St. Rita, senior

Charlie Ciske, Cary-Grove, senior

Eli Davidson, Dixon, senior

Jake Gregorio, Downers Grove North, senior

Defensive Back

Burke Gautcher, Sycamore, senior

Noah LaPorte, Princeton, senior

Donovan Robinson, Loyola, senior

James Stampley, Kankakee, senior